What is the Zika Virus? in Lexington, KY

ByMatt Schaffer

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11 May, 2016

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The latest virus to make news headlines is the spread of the Zika Virus disease
to the United States. Whether you have recently traveled to an area that is commonly infected with the Zika virus or you would like to take precautionary measures around your own home, learning more about the disease can help you understand more about how it spreads and how to prevent it from affecting you or your loved ones. Considering the virus is contracted through infected mosquitos, deterrence must first take place from outside of your home. The professional staff of IPM Pest and Termite can help you learn more about pest control in Lexington KY and how to prevent the Zika virus.

THE ESSENTIALS

The Zika virus disease can be tricky to not only detect
but to prevent contracting as well. Spread by the infected bite of an Aedes species mosquito, this disease is unique to this particular insect. Once infected, symptoms are typically mild in severity, making it a very difficult virus to detect. Common indicators of infection include running a fever, joint pain throughout the body, red and swollen eyes, and a persistent rash. Although the Zika virus causes some minor discomfort, it is usually not severe enough for someone to seek medical treatment, making most cases of the disease undetected. Even though symptoms seems harmless, for a woman who may be pregnant, the Zika virus can be detrimental, as it has been known to causes the rare birth defect, microcephaly. It is highly important for pregnant women to avoid any contact with infected mosquitos during the duration of their pregnancy. Once a person has been infected with the Zika virus, they cannot be infected again, potentially protecting the body from future infected bites.

UNDERSTANDING THE VIRUS

Unfortunately there is no vaccine that exists for the Zika virus at this time. The best method of prevention for contracting the virus is by simply avoiding overseas travel to an area where infected mosquitos are present or to evade mosquito bites in general, even around your own home. For the Aedes species of mosquito that carry the Zika virus, biting and feeding during daylight hours is preferable, making them attack more aggressively during the day. Even though the infected mosquitoes typically bite during the day, they will still continue biting at night and precautions should still be in place while sleeping. Mosquitos can usually be found around stale or stagnant water where they lay their eggs, making any type of container around your home such as an empty flower pot, a bucket, or even your pets drinking bowl a possible target. Since biting an already infected person infects mosquitoes, who then continue to bite other people as well, the disease can spread rapidly if mosquito prevention isn’t in place.

PREVENTING THE ZIKA VIRUS

The best prevention
for the Zika virus is to avoid contact with mosquitoes, especially if overseas where the virus originates. If you’re worried that mosquitoes around your home may be infected or would simply like to take precautions, there are very simple and affordable ways to do so.

Start by wearing long sleeve clothing and pants instead of shorts. Make sure to stay covered as much as possible when outdoors. During the daytime hours, try to stay in a cool or air conditioned room or space, preferably surrounded with solid doors and windows, or those with screens to prevent mosquitos from entering. If you’re planning to travel overseas or even a camping trip in your backyard, the use of a mosquito net while sleeping will prevent any bites during the night. If you choose to be active outdoors, using a safe and non-toxic bug repellant for your body or your clothing is a smart choice for exposed skin or surrounding areas. For the best preventative measure, consider seeking professional help for treatment of mosquitos near your home. For the optimal mosquito control in Lexington KY, contact
the exterminators at IPM Pest and Termite today.

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There may not be a more annoying pest than the mosquito. Mosquito bites, while not painful when they occur, can itch for weeks and leave you covered in unsightly red spots. If you have a mosquito problem in your yard and can’t stand the buzzing and biting anymore, it is time to take back your yard. Let IPM Pest & Termite, serving Lexington, Kentucky and all the surrounding areas, help you rid yourself of your mosquito problem with our guide to mosquito control.

Mosquito Basics and Dangers

Mosquitoes are small, sometimes impossible to see, flying insects that feed from their tube-like mouths. These tubes pierce their host’s skin and allow them to drink blood, which is their only food source. Though mosquito bites are not painful, because mosquitoes actually carry a numbing agent in their beaks to help them maintain a feeding connection longer, they can still be incredibly bothersome. Mosquito saliva, because of the numbing chemical, causes a rash with a hive-like appearance that will itch for days. Mosquitoes are known to carry diseases, which can be transmitted from host to host with their bites. Because of this, mosquitoes are seen as one of the deadliest animals on the planet.

How to Control Mosquitos

If you have noticed an increase in buzzing mosquitos, or noticed the floating rafts of eggs in potted plants or water in your home, you have a mosquito problem. Fortunately, there are many easy ways to reduce this possibility for infestation and reverse the problem.

1. Get Rid of Standing Water

The easiest way to decrease the number of mosquitos around your home is to remove all standing water. Mosquitos are attracted to water because this is where they lay their eggs, and even the smallest amount of standing water will attract them. Tip over dog bowls, drain excess water in potted plants, and ensure that your yard is properly irrigated, with suitable drainage pathways, to avoid these nuisances.

2. Keep Your Yard Debris Free

Dead leaves, overgrown trees, overgrown shrubs, and overgrown plants are ideal breeding habitats for mosquitoes. Keep your yard tidy and well-trimmed for an easy way to reduce the number of mosquitoes you encounter.

3. Treat Your Yard

Treating your yard with control products to poison mosquito eggs, which stops the maturation of eggs, or other insect repellents is an easy way to control mosquitoes. Spray plants, shrubs, and trees in your yard to discourage mosquitoes from creating habitats in these areas. In addition, consider treating all of your grass and flowerbeds with an insect repellent that is oil based. Oil based repellent barriers reduce the amount of chemicals in your yard, making it safer to use around children and pets.

4. Call a Professional

If these tips for mosquito reduction do not help with your infestation, or if your mosquito problem comes back, it may be time to call a professional. Ensure the safety and well-being of your family and pets by calling the mosquito control experts at IPM Pest & Termite. At IPM Pest & Termite, we are here to help with all your pest control needs. As a member of Angie’s List
, a recipient of an A+ from the BBB
, and over 20 years of pest control experience, IPM Pest & Termite can guarantee your satisfaction. Contact us
today with any concerns you have about mosquitoes in your home.

As summer comes to an end, you may notice an increase of loud chirping around your home. Along with this distinct noise that they produce, crickets can be seen hoping through the grass at all hours of the day. While crickets will not harm you, their presence can be an annoyance if they end up in your home. At IPM Pest & Termite, serving Lexington, Kentucky and the surrounding areas, we are your most trusted source for cricket extermination.

Identifying Crickets

Crickets are small to medium in size with a cylindrical body. Usually light brown to black in color, crickets have long, thin antennae, a small head, and a long body. Crickets have unique legs that make them easy to identify. Because crickets move long distances by jumping, they are equipped with appendages that assist their movements. Their back legs are significantly enlarged for jumps, their middle pair of legs stick outward, and their front pair of legs, which rest by their head, contain tympani to receive sound. Crickets are also easily identified by the chirping sound that the males make. Male crickets chirp at all hours of the day, and for many reasons. A courting song is used to attract female crickets in the area. A triumph song is used after mating, to encourage the female cricket to lay eggs. And an aggressive song is used to repel other male crickets from the area. Depending on the temperature and the species of cricket, chirping will be different.

Behavior

Crickets are omnivores and will eat almost any food source that is available if their normal diet is not. Flowers, fruits, vegetables, leafs, grasses, larvae, smaller bugs, and young plants are all liable to be parts of a cricket’s diet if they can find it. Crickets like damp conditions the most, hence why they are so active at night and in the early morning when grass is wet from dew. Most active at night, crickets, like many insects, are attracted to lights.

Signs of Infestation

Unfortunately, the only way you can tell you have a cricket infestation is by seeing the crickets in your home or hearing their chirps. Typically, only the house, ground, or field cricket will be seen in a home. The house cricket is light brown, almost yellow, and is around 20mm long. The ground cricket is very small, and brown in color. And lastly, the field cricket is darker brown or black and is about 3cm long. You will likely notice crickets at night time, because they are more active with their chirps in the dark. If you believe you may have a cricket infestation, IPM Pest & Termite is who you need to call for the best cricket exterminator in the area. At IPM, we specialize in ridding your home of a wide range of pest problems. As a member of Angie’s List
with an A+ BBB
rating, we can guarantee that our services will meet all of your standards. If you think it is time to take the next step with cricket extermination, contact
IPM Pest & Termite today.

Pests are more numerous during the summer months, and if you are not careful they can really dampen the joy of summer for your family. To make your summer months as pest free as possible, let IPM Pest & Termite of Lexington, Kentucky show you a few of the pests you should watch out for this summer to ensure the safety and comfort of your family and home.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are one of the most numerous and dangerous pests of the summer. Not only do these insects cause annoying, itchy bumps when they bite, bumps that can remain itchy for days or even weeks, but these bites can also transmit disease. West Nile Virus, Zika, malaria, encephalitis, and yellow fever are just a few of the viruses that these insects can transmit. Mosquitoes breed in areas with standing water, so the best way you can avoid a mosquito problem in your yard is to remove areas that trap water. In addition, always wear insect repellent when you are outdoors, especially at dawn and dusk, which is when mosquitoes are the most active and annoying.

Ticks

Ticks are a problem every summer, but this is especially the case this year. Because of the warmer than usual winters, ticks have been given a longer breeding period and their population has exploded. There are many different types of ticks, all of which have the potential to spread disease once they have latched on. Ticks are usually found in foliage, shrubbery, and shaded areas, so keeping our yard well maintained is the best way to prevent them. Wear insect repellent, inspect yourself and your children nightly for ticks after you have been outdoors, and wear long-sleeved shirts to help prevent tick bites.

Ants

As a species with a one-track mind, ants are always on the search for food. Because of this, ants will leave behind a pheromone trail for other ants to follow, which leads to major problems in a home if not caught early. To prevent ant infestations in your home, ensure that food and drinks are cleaned up immediately, seal the cracks and opening around doors and windows, and keep your gutters clean. Aside from being a nuisance in your home, ants like the fire ant will cause problems outside your home as well. Fire ants are very aggressive and active, and when threatened or trodden on will sting humans and pets multiple times to protect themselves. Insect treatments are the only way to rid yourself of these painful pests.

Bees & Wasps

Wasps and bees are dangerous pests to have because not only do their stings hurt, but over 5% of the population will have some allergic reaction to their venom. Unlike the above pests, bee and wasp infestations must be handled by a trained professional. There are many different species of wasps and bees, all of which will cause real harm to you if not handled properly. To prevent infestations of these painful pests, monitor around your home for the start of nests, empty your garbage cans frequently, and don’t leave food out in the open to attract them. In addition, if you find a hive of bees near your home, relocating the bees is the best option because the species, which is vital to plant pollination, is now endangered.

IPM Pest & Termite

Serving Lexington, Kentucky and all the surrounding areas, IPM Pest & Termite is here to keep your summer months pest free. Regular inspection and preventative treatments will decrease the risk of pests in the summer month. At IPM, we specialize in ridding your home of a wide range of pest problems. As a member of Angie’s List
with an A+ BBB
rating, we can guarantee that our services will meet all of your standards. If you are ready to tackle your home’s pest problem this summer, contact
IPM Pest & Termite today!

While our four-legged, furry friends are a source of joy for many families, pets can also cause pest infestations in your home if you are not careful. To prevent your pets from contracting illness, and ensure that your home does not become infested with anything that they carry inside, you need to take preventative measures. If you are worried about your pets bringing pests into your home, Let IPM Pest &Termite of Lexington, Kentucky show you exactly what you need to know about preventing these potential infestations in your home.

Fleas

The most common insect that all pet owners are warned of preventing is fleas. Fleas are tiny, sesame seed sized, brown insects, which are found in every region of the country during all seasons of the year. More numerous in the summer than in the colder months, fleas will jump onto your pet without notice and then get transported into your home. The best way to prevent fleas from infesting your home is to use animal-specific flea treatment, which you give to your dog or cat either monthly or every few months, and by treating your lawn with a pet-safe insect treatment.

Ticks

Ticks are the trickiest insect to detect on your pet. Ticks are small, 8-legged, blood sucking bugs, that have a very hard outer shell and a mean bite. Ticks are found across the country and are more numerous in the summer months. Typically, ticks are more prevalent in shaded or wooded areas, and it is in these spots that your pets are more prone to these nasty little miscreants. To ensure that your pet does not carry ticks into your home, make sure that your shrubbery, trees, and vegetation are well kept, as this is where ticks will hide. In addition, veterinarian prescribed tick prevention medicine is essential. Not only does tick medicine help keep ticks out of your home, it will also help prevent your pet (and family members!) from contracting Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Mosquitos

Mosquitos may not seem like an animal that would infest your home, but if these potentially dangerous pests are not handled properly, they can become a real annoyance both in and outside your home, transmitting disease and causing major annoyance to you and your family. Attracted to anything that has blood, and most commonly found near standing water, mosquitos are a dangerous insect that can be carried inside your home by your pets. Known as a transmitter of hazardous viruses to humans, mosquitos are also the most common ways that dogs and cats contract heartworms. Transmitted by your pets ingesting infected mosquito larvae, heartworms are a deadly roundworm that will silently infect your pets’ blood vessels, eventually reaching the vessels of the heart and causing mechanical blockage and death. To prevent a mosquito infestation, and all the hazards that come with these insects, ensure that your yard is well maintained. Remove standing water and have your yard treated for mosquitos annually.

IPM Pest & Termite

At IPM Pest & Termite, we can help you prevent these potential pest infestations. Regular bug inspection and preventative treatments will decrease the risk of pests entering your home via your pets. At IPM Pest & Termite, serving Lexington, Kentucky and the surrounding areas, we specialize in ridding your home of a wide range of pest problems. As a member of Angie’s List
with an A+ BBB
rating, we can guarantee that our services will meet all of your standards. If you are ready to prevent your home’s potential pest problem, and keep your pets and family safe, contact
IPM Pest & Termite today!

Millions of homeowners suffer through the annoyance of dealing with pests inside their homes. If you have noticed an increase of pests in your home, or are just looking for prevention measures, IPM can help. Let IPM Pest & Termite of Lexington, Kentucky, show you a few ways to help make your home inhospitable to pests.

Maintain Plants and Mulch

Make sure your shrubs, tree branches, and other plants are trimmed so that they do not make contact with your home. Plants that touch your home create a bridge for small pests to use that give them easy access to your home. The type of mulch that you use will also have an effect on the level of pest control in your home. Mulch, pine straw, and wood chips that are right against your home could leave to greater pest issues than with other materials.

Seal Openings

Ensure that your home is pest free by making sure that the possible openings into your home are secure. Doors, windows, sidings, roofing, and utility lines are all areas that will need to be checked. Even the tiniest opening can lead to a major pest problem. If you discover any openings make sure these spots are sealed correctly. If pest prevention is your goal, expanding caulk will not be your best choice for repair. Choose fillers like steel wool, mortar, or copper mesh to make it more difficult for pests to chew through.

Lighting Choices

Flying insects are attracted to light. If you have noticed a recent increase in the number of insects surrounding your outdoor lights, changing your lightbulbs is a great decision and bug deterrent. Most outdoor lightbulbs are mercury vapor lights. These lights let off white light that bugs are attracted to. Switch out these lightbulbs with sodium vapor or halogen options, which cast a pink or yellow tint and don’t attract as many insects. If you are installing new lighting in the front of your home, consider keeping light fixtures way from your doors and windows. Install lighting farther away from the house and have it pointing towards the doors and windows to avoid bugs.

Debris Upkeep

The cleaner the inside and outside of your home is, the less chance for bugs to find things to hide and live in. Keep your yard, patio, stoop, and garage free of standing water, garbage, and stored foods. These items will attract bugs and lead to pest problems for your home.

Pest Control

If these tips don’t help with your pest problem in your home, calling in a professional will completely get rid of the problem. Regular bug inspection and preventative treatments will decrease the risk of pests entering your home or get rid of the problem quicker. At IPM Pest & Termite, serving Lexington, Kentucky and the surrounding areas, we specialize in ridding your home of a wide range of pest problems. As a member of Angie’s List
with an A+ BBB
rating, we can guarantee that our services will meet all of your standards. If you are ready to tackle your home’s pest problem, contact
IPM Pest & Termite today!

Kentucky is known for many great things: horse racing, basketball, and bourbon to name a few. Unfortunately, along with the great things that the state holds, homeowners should also be aware of the pests that may cause issues while living in this area. At IPM Pest & Termite of Lexington, Kentucky, we want to help you be prepared for pests by letting you know exactly what you need to know about pests that are native to Kentucky.

Flying Insects

Kentucky is full of flying insects that can cause major pest problems in and around your home. Because of Kentucky’s humid weather and plentiful rainfall, many types of mosquitos are common in the state. These conditions are also ideal for many other types of insects. Many different varieties of bees, wasps, flies, and moths are also common throughout the fall, spring, and summer months.

Roaches and Beetles

Roaches and beetles are common throughout the state. With a wide variety of different non-flying pests in the area, it can sometimes be hard to determine which specific type you may see. The American cockroach, carpet beetle, termites, fleas, and ants are the most concerning for homeowners.

Spiders

There are a surprisingly large number of spider varieties in Kentucky. While the most dangerous spiders, the black widow and brown recluse, are less common to see in your home than a wolf spider or brown house spider, precaution is still necessary. There are also a number of different outdoor spiders that may make your home and garden appear unsightly.

Bed Bugs

Unfortunately, Kentucky has one of the worst bed bug issues in the country. Bed bugs are small insects that infest homes quickly and discreetly. By the time bed bugs are noticed the infestation is usually out of hand and unable to be taken care of on your own. These tiny, brown, seed-shaped bugs like to hide in tight crevices, like mattresses and furniture, and feed on blood during the night. Keep an eye out for these annoying pests whenever you travel, by checking mattresses and furniture in hotel rooms, because they are hard to get rid of if they are carried back into your home.

Rodents

Common rodents in Kentucky include rats, mice, moles, squirrels, and raccoons. All of these rodents can cause real problems in a house or yard if there is ever an infestation. Rats and mice can sneak through even the smallest holes in your foundation, live in your walls, or take over a garage or basement. Moles will cause unsightly and damaging tracks in your yard. While squirrels and raccoons, if you are not taking precautions and ensuring that your house is secure, can take up residence in your attic or walls.

Because there is such a wide array of pests native to Kentucky, it is important to have all of your bases covered. At IPM Pest & Termite, serving Lexington, Kentucky and all of the surrounding areas, we can help you with any current home pest problems or help you ensure that pest problems won’t occur. As a member of Angie’s List
with an A+ BBB
rating, we can guarantee that our services will meet all of your standards. If you are ready to tackle your home’s pest problem, contact
IPM Pest & Termite today!

When it comes to pest control, I’m sure you are looking for the company that will solve your problem the fastest. However, there are many important facts to consider when choosing a pest control service that you might not know about. Some of these factors include environmental impact, price, location, and the quality of the service. When looking for the best and most reliable pest control service, look for a company that is QualityPro certified like IPM Pest & Termite Control.

What does it mean to be QualityPro
certified you may ask? Great question! QualityPro is a third party certification managed by the Foundation for Professional Pest Management. The Foundation for Professional Pest Management is an organization with the goal of creating high and professional business standards and practices, and has done so since 2004. The certification itself is awarded by the National Pest Management Association to those companies which have been deemed as going above their call of duty in terms of state licensing. Only 500 pest control companies in the United States are able to claim this honor, which is less than 3% of all businesses in the field. It is considered the highest recognition of service and excellence in the pest control industry.

Now that you know what the award is, you are probably wondering what the qualifications are to be awarded this certification. The two most important standards maintained by companies who are granted this honor are their commitment to environmental services and professional industry practices. The four specific categories of testing include business operations, environmental stewardship, consumer relations, and sales. A company must apply to become QualityPro certified and they will be examined based upon their implementation of these four criteria.

Now you may be wondering what any of this means for you specifically as a potential client. The mark of a company being QualityPro certified is one that you should consistently look for when choosing a pest control company. It ensures that the service will go above and beyond typical expectations of professionalism in the industry. This award is intended to differentiate the higher quality companies from the others, making it easier for customers to choose the company that is right for them.

At IPM Pest & Termite, we have become a QualityPro certified pest control company to contribute to the high standards of excellence in our field. Based upon the criteria, we guarantee a service that is smart both economically and environmentally, along with being effective as well. We offer a multitude of services that will fit the needs of a wide variety of customers. If you are looking for the best pest control company in you, look no further than here at IPM Pest & Termite. We are located in Lexington, KY and serve the surrounding area, so give us a call today!

With the official start of summer comes endless days spent frolicking in the grass and bathing in the sun. There is a certain carelessness that comes with roaming around outdoors during the summer months, but it is important to stay aware of your surroundings. Most people fear those pesky bites from mosquitos, but what about the others in the phylum arthropoda? It is almost inevitable to encounter some sort of bug during outdoor adventures, so you need to educate yourself on whether that bug is a friend or foe.

The brown recluse
is the most feared insect when it comes to spending your summer outdoors. However, this specific spider has a twin that is frequently mistaken as its poisonous counterpart. Therefore, it is crucial that you are familiar with both insects in order to determine how cautious you should be.

The brown recluse is a recluse spider that is one of only two spiders in North America with medically significant venom, meaning that if you get bitten then you should immediately seek medical attention. They are usually colored a dull tan but can vary to a deep brown, with the younger spiders being lighter in color. A brown recluse is roughly the size of a quarter.

The most prominent identifier of a brown recluse is the distinct mark on the back of their thorax. It is a deeper mark, usually black, and is shaped like a violin with the handle pointing towards their abdomen. However, there are other spiders who may have similar markings. Therefore, you need to examine the eyes of the specimen to determine if it is a brown recluse. A brown recluse is one of the few spiders that will have three pairs of eyes and the only spider that has 6 eyes and the distinct violin-shaped mark.

Their brownish hue and outdoor habitat are what cause many people to misidentify a grass spider for a brown recluse. Agelenopsis
, or a grass spider, is significantly larger than a brown recluse but has a similar coloring. However, this spider has a set of eight eyes and is a funnel web spinner. Although their bite may cause damage to possible prey, they are not a concern for humans. Based upon their name, they are most often found amongst the side of buildings spinning webs in corners and hiding amongst the grasses. A brown recluse will nestle into a similar habitat and try to find areas with less activity.

It is of course possible that either of these spiders can find their way into your home, garage, or other closed locations, as they will be more drawn to dark corners and more hidden areas. There are two measures that you can take to ensure that you have a fun, spider free summer. The first is to educate yourself on the difference between these two specimens to prevent any bites. The second is to call us as IPM Pest & Termite Control
for the most environmentally sound and effective treatment to remove such pests. We are located in Lexington, KY and serve the surrounding area.

Ants are the most common pest problem in American households.
With over 20,000 species of ants all over the world, it is not surprising that
this is the case. If you suspect an ant problem in your home, IPM Pest &
Termite of Lexington, Kentucky, is here to give you the information you need to
help you understand these pests and learn how to properly eradicate the
problem.

Debatably one of the biggest nuisances of the summer months,
a mosquito’s buzzing and biting is known by everyone. While these pests may
seem harmless, aside from the itching, many people are unaware of the potential
for spreading disease that mosquitos have. Let IPM Pest & Termite of
Lexington, Kentucky, teach you about the mosquito’s habits and life, and to
help you better avoid and treat an infestation.

What to Do

Because of the risks and potential costs of pest infestation, it is necessary to require an inspection for both wood destroying insects and pests before you finalize the purchase of your new real estate. Fortunately, IPM Pest & Termite is here to help ensure that your next real estate purchase is free of termites and pests. Choosing IPM means that you have a company of trained professionals with your best interest in mind. IPM uses only licensed professionals to perform these inspections. Wood Destroying Insect Reports vary in service and technical expertise from company to company. At IPM we pride ourselves on giving extremely thorough inspections and backing it up with our superior service.

IPM Pest & Termite strives to provide customers with quality services. A complete and thorough inspection is done on the structure to determine current and past problems. The inspection is also done to identify any signs of previous treatments. The service does not stop when the inspection is done. IPM Pest & Termite will provide a professional typed report in a timely manner. We are available for questions and can be reached over the phone or e-mail. Completed reports can be e-mailed to the person requesting the inspection, or sent to the appropriate agent or mortgage company. Our goal is to provide you with a non-biased report that provides valuable information in your home buying decision.

This season's top invaders:

Call IPM if you don't like bugs and you want to keep them out.

We offer a variety of ongoing maintenance programs for your home and business. We offer long-term solutions to keep you pest free; not just quick "fixes". Contact us today for a no-obligation quote. You'll be happy you did! Our professional pest control team will come out and get started right away.

We are a local pest control company in Lexington, Kentucky who specializes in cricket extermination, as well as spider pest control, flies pest control, stink bug pest control, ant control, bed bug control, wasp control, cockroach control, and more. We are located in Lexington, KY and proudly serve the surrounding area.